The International Canoe Federation will celebrate its centenary in style at its Congress in Antalya, where elections will be held and an evolutionary new strategy will be unveiled.
Around 200 people from the world of paddle sports will gather at the Fame Residence Lara in the Turkish city for the ICF Congress.
The meeting will run from November 7 and 8 with all the attendees invited to a special anniversary dinner on November 9.
The evening of centenary celebrations will see leading figures from paddle sports toast the 100th anniversary of the ICF which was formed in 1924.
It comes at a poignant time for the ICF which will present its Fit for Future Evolution strategy at the Congress.
Building on the achievements made under Fit for Future 2022-2024, this refined new strategic plan has been designed to ensure the long-term success and growth of paddle sport and the federation.
The leadership of the ICF is set to remain in place as the federation moves forward into the next exciting chapter of its long history.
Germany’s Thomas Konietzko, who has led the ICF since 2021, is the sole candidate for the position of President.
The three incumbent Vice Presidents are also unchallenged with Spain’s Lluis Rabaneda i Caselles and Argentina’s Cecilia Farias seeking re-election and Italy’s Luciano Buonfiglio looking to be elected in the role having held the position on an interim basis.
China’s Li Xin, Turkiye’s Alper Cavit Kabakci, Hungary’s Peter Karai and Lebanon’s Mazen Ramadan have been nominated for the role of ICF Treasurer.
Canoe Ocean Racing and Stand Up Paddling are the only two ICF Standing Committees where there are challenges for Chair.
South Africa’s Colin Simpkins and Belgium’s Marian Sarbu will contest the position of Chair of the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing Committee.
Hungary’s Noemi Horvath and Moldova’s Martin Marinov will face each other for the role of Chair of the ICF SUP Committee.
For the first time, the elected SUP Chair will subsequently hold a seat on the Board as the Commission will become a Committee following the Congress, due to the successful development of the sport and an increase in the number of National Federations participating in its World Championships.
Starting on November 7, the Congress will see International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach deliver a video message.
There will be reports and presentations from the ICF leadership as well as from the Chairs of each of the Standing Committees and Presidents of each of the Continental Associations.
The budget for the next two years will also be presented as well as proposed rules and statute changes, while Central African Republic will put forward its case to become the newest member of the federation.
Mr Konietzko said: “I look forward to welcoming our canoeing family to Antalya for our Centenary Congress.
“Since we took office in 2021, we faced many external challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war.
“But we remained steadfast in our mission to develop and promote canoeing worldwide.
“Over the past three years, we have overseen significant growth, strategic restructuring and an ongoing commitment to expanding the global reach of our sport.
“This is a very special time for our federation as we celebrate our 100th anniversary and confidently look ahead to the next century.”
